Big Mouth ready to do the talking

LOSSIEMOUTH has been a ‘talking horse’ all winter and nothing changed yesterday, when the BHA were forced to issue an apology about her. Last season’s Triumph Hurdle heroine makes her eagerlyawaited return to action this afternoon at Cheltenham, in the International Hurdle, and she will do so with 11st on her back, rather than 11st 3lb as had been initially indicated earlier in the week.

If Lossiemouth does what connections expect her to do, however, it would not make a difference if she was carrying top weight or pulling a cart as well. This flashy grey, trained by Willie Mullins, is setting out on the path to what is hoped will be another Cheltenham Festival success.

Mullins has so many good horses in his yard, he is spoilt for choice with big-race contenders. In a ‘normal’ year, Lossiemouth, owned by Susannah and Rich Ricci, would be a dark horse for the Champion Hurdle but her target this spring is the contest exclusively for mares. It is a race with which the Mullins yard have a huge affinity, not least as they won it six years in succession with Quevega; the Riccis have won it twice themselves and hopes are high Lossiemouth will prove equal to the challenge. ‘Her work has always been very good,’ Mullins’s son, Patrick, tells Mail Sport. ‘She had the one blip last year when she ran into a bit of traffic trouble at Leopardstown — otherwise you could set your watch by her (winning four of her five races). Her work so far this year has been just as good. ‘But she was very busy last season. That’s why we wanted to give her loads of time to get over it. Being a five-year-old, Willie didn’t want to over-race